Development
Growth, poverty, jobs and public spending. What raises living standards, and which programs deliver results.
Labor markets · Social protection · Public finance
Research organization · Dhaka
Policy driven by research and data
The Policy Institute does policy research, runs surveys and fieldwork, and teaches courses on Bangladesh's politics, economy and energy.
About
Better decisions start with better evidence
Bangladesh does not yet have enough reliable data to base policy on. We collect it ourselves, analyze it, and share what it shows with the people who decide and the people who want to understand.
Vision
A Bangladesh where policy is driven by research and data, where evidence-based decision-making is the norm, not the exception, across governance, economics, and politics.
Mission
To strengthen governance and development outcomes through rigorous research, policy engagement, and capacity building.
Open about method
We publish how our data was collected and how our conclusions were reached.
Original data
Where the numbers don't exist, we go to the field and collect them.
Plain language
Our reports and courses are written to be understood by non-specialists.
Policy & Research
Research on the questions that shape Bangladesh
We carry out our own research, publish policy reports, and turn the evidence into recommendations for policymakers and parties.
Governance
How institutions work and how they are held to account, from elections to public administration.
Political economy · Elections · Institutions
Energy
Electricity and fuel: the choices around supply, prices and the shift to cleaner sources.
Power sector · Pricing · Energy transition
Education
Access, quality and what students actually learn, including skills for the job market.
Learning outcomes · Skills · School and university systems
More research areas will be added as the institute grows.
What we produce
Policy reports
In-depth analysis of a policy question, with recommendations.
Policy briefs
Short, plain-language summaries for busy decision-makers.
Research papers
Formal studies that follow academic standards.
Evaluations
Assessments of whether a program or policy worked.
Data & Surveys
Fieldwork and surveys you can rely on
We run surveys across Bangladesh for researchers, campaigns and organizations, and we analyze the results.
Fieldwork for researchers
Planning a survey in Bangladesh? We handle the on-the-ground work: questionnaires, enumerators, data collection and quality checks.
Election and opinion surveys
Polling and voter surveys for candidates, parties, media and researchers.
Market research
Consumer and household surveys for organizations that want to understand their customers.
Data analysis
Cleaning, analysis and clear reporting of survey and administrative data.
Training & Dialogue
Courses on how Bangladesh works
Open to students, professionals, journalists and anyone who wants a clear grounding in the country's institutions, history and economy.
The Constitution of Bangladesh
Opens soonHow the constitution is structured, what rights it guarantees, how power is divided, and how it has been amended.
Political History of Bangladesh
Opens soonThe events, movements and institutions that shaped the country's politics, from partition to the present.
Energy Sector of Bangladesh: Supply, Pricing and Policy
Opens soonWhere electricity and fuel come from, how prices are set, and the policy choices ahead.
The Economy of Bangladesh
Opens soonGrowth, trade, jobs and inflation, explained for readers without an economics background.
Policy Analysis: A Practical Introduction
Opens soonHow to read evidence, compare policy options and write a clear policy brief.
Survey and Research Methods
Opens soonDesigning questionnaires, choosing a sample and interpreting results with care.
Dates, fees and enrolment will be announced here. To hear first, write to us at the address in the contact section.
Dialogues
Structured conversations that bring policymakers, parties, academics and civil society together on one issue, with evidence on the table.
Seminars
Public talks and workshops on research findings, policy questions and methods.
People
Who leads the institute
Dr. Sibbir Ahmad
Founder and Executive Director
Assistant Professor of Economics at North South University, Dhaka. Applied economist with research experience in development, political economy and survey design, including survey implementation and election forecasting.
- PhD in Applied Economics, Michigan State University
- Postdoctoral research, University of Virginia
- Prior experience with the World Bank and BRAC
Contact
Talk to us about your project
Write to us about a study, a survey, a course or a speaking request. We reply to every message.
contact@policyinstitutebd.org
Research collaboration
Joint studies, data sharing and policy projects.
Surveys and fieldwork
Field data collection, polling and market research.
Courses and events
Enrolment, group bookings, seminars and dialogues.
Media
Interviews, comment and requests for data.
Dhaka, Bangladesh